Protective packer blowout preventer assembly



March 17, 1953 F. J. SCHWEITZER, JR

PROTECTIVE PACKER BLOWOUT PREVENTER ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 20, 1949 Patented Mar. 17, 1953 PROTECTIVE PACKER BLOWOUT PREVENTER ASSEMBLY Frank J. Schweitzer, Jr., Brea, Calif.

Application December 20, 1949, Serial No. 133,996

2 Claims. (Cl. 137-618) This invention is a protective-packer, blow-out preventer and concerns gate assemblies of the general type shown in my application Ser. No. 782,363, filed October 2'7, 1947.

It is desirable that the sealing packing of such preventers be reliably protected, at top and bottom margins, against attrition by well fluids or other agents incident to the use of the preventers in deep well rigs.

Therefore, it is an intent of this invention to provide the elastic packing element of a respective gate assembly with a substantial, durable and highly reliable and effective re-inforcing, anchoring and protective means.

Particularly, a purpose of the invention is to provide in the packing element itself an intervulcanized web member, that is, a shield member which is vulcanized in embedded place in the member and has one or more flange portions to overlap and guard margins of the effective or inner facing of the ram block installed packing element.

Further, an aim of the invention is to provide, in a preventer gate assembly, a re-inforced, margin protected packing element incorporating means for solidly anchoring the element in effective place in a given gate assembly.

The type of packin element herein involved is provided with a semicircular, upwardly seating limb and it is an object to provide a complementary floating gate block with a supporting shelf which tends to crown the supported limb upwardly during the closing action of the gate in its housing.

It is a desideratum to provide a completely organized or unit type of this protective packing element with the advantage of economic packing, storing, transportation and general, safe handling and for quick and easy installation as a replacement packer on a gate at a well rig platform, as may be needed.

The invention resides in certain advancements in this art as set forth in the ensuing disclosure and has, with the above, additional objects, and advantages as hereinafter developed, and whose constructions, combinations and details of means and the manner of operation will be made manifest in the following description of the herewith illustrative embodiment; it being understood that modifications, variations, adaptations and equivalents may be resorted to within the spirit, scope and principles of the invention as it is claimed in conclusion hereof.

Figure 1 is a plan, partly in horizontal section through the longitudinal axis of the re-inforcing member of the packer. Y

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section on the axis of one of the anchoring screws.

Figure 3 is a perspective of the isolate shielding member of the packer.

This preventer assembly includes an outer body or ram 2 slidable endwise onto a coupling head 3 of a piston or otherwise actuated pushing and pulling device 4; though this ram is not limited to that specific coupling or actuating means. Floatingly mounted in the ram there is a substantial, semi-disc gate block 5 around the top of which snugly fits a substantial semicircular ring limb B of rubber or a suitable substitute which solidly seats and seals against the complementary ram recess face 2 The limb 6 interlocks at head 6b in a channel 50 in the block and the latter has a rearwardly extending shelf 1 which, when the block is crowded back toward the ram prevents downward extrusion of the rubber limb 6 and effects an efiicient upward seal of the rubber against the adjacent housing (not shown) surface.

The packing limb 6 unites with the ends of a substantial thickness of packing material constituting a diametrical packer element 6p which as shown in Fig. 2 normally projects outward from the face plane 5 of the block 5 so as to form an effective seal when abutting an opposed gate block or other obstruction as the case may be.

It is very desirable that the protruding packing 6p be shielded from direct attrition of sometimes great fluid pressure, indicated by arrow P, accruing in wells where these heavy duty gates are installed in Well casings.

For this protection there is here shown a substantial plate or web member [0 having windows (Ow to effect secure inter-vulcanization of the rubber of the packer when this is molded around the planted web member. This member also has numerous holes I I for anchoring screws [2 which fasten into the block 5. This re-inforcing member is further distinguished by having one or more longitudinal outwardly projecting flanges 10f fitted at top and bottom in a face recess of the block and which embrace upper and lower margins or surfaces 6m and project beyond the block plane '5). It will be observed that when the packing element 610 is subjected to operational compression there is no relative motion as between the Web member In and the packingthey form a substantially rigid organization. As seen in Fig. 1 the member ID does not extend the full length of the packing element.

7 What is claimed is:

1. A yieldable ram block, for a ram assembly,

having a projecting packing sunk in and across its effective face said packing having embedded therein a protector member of channel cross-section and facing outwardly and in which an outward strip of the packing is lodged; the top and bottom flanges of said member embracing the lodged stri and protectin it from pressure of attrition agents.

2. In a blowaout-preven'ter, afiatinggat'blocli" having a'projecting' shelf along its top rear corner;

10 2305,27!) around the upper corner of the block and resting and an elastic packer having a sealing limb fitting on said shelf and whereby the part-of said limb on the shelf is prevented from extruding down-- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,162,990 Abercrombie June 20, 1939 2;19 4',25 7 Allen Mar: 19, 1940 25246309 Allen June24, 1941 Victor Aug. 6, 1946 

